“Jamie, we’re heading out,” Ben said as he stood and helped Lane up. “Tyler it was good to see you again. Girls, nice meeting you.”
“Yes, Chloe, Ashley, nice meeting you. Tyler nice seeing you. Y’all have a nice evening. Jamie, see you later at home,” Lane said as she picked up her purse and turned to go.
Ben put this hand in the small of her back as they walked to the door.
He held the door as Lane got into the SUV and leaned in for a quick kiss before he closed the door. He walked around and got it. “The girls seemed nice.”
Lane laughed. “They were certainly enamored with you.”
Ben smiled. “Surely not. I’m old enough to be their father.”
Lane laughed. Bellini fever, she thought.
“You don’t think the Bambino is serious with Chloe, do you? He told me a month ago he wasn’t planning to get serious since he’d be leaving soon for college.”
Lane laughed. “You were 17 once, what do you think?”
He looked at her. Yes, he’d been 17 once, his senior year was spent making Natalie Stanton think he was serious. And he was. Serious about getting into her pants anyway. God, he hoped Jamie remembered the rules.
He wondered what Lane had been like at 17. He knew she’d been a virgin until she met her first husband although he didn’t know whether they’d waited until after the wedding to have sex. He imagined any number of teenaged boys trying to get into her panties. He shook his head. It was completely insane to be jealous about oversexed teenaged boys in the past.
“What about you? What were you doing at 17?”
“I didn’t even date until I went to college.”
He gave her hand a squeeze. “I find that hard to believe. What was wrong with those Omaha boys? I’d have been all over you.”
She laughed. “First of all, you were five when I was 17, and secondly I went to a Catholic girl’s school and I went from school to home and home to school. There was no time or place to meet boys. No regrets though.” She smiled at him. “I’m very happy with the way my life has turned out.”
He lifted her hand to his lips. “So am I, Red. So am I.”
He drove to her house, aware as each block passed that he had failed to figure out something that would prevent Jess from taking matters into her own hands tomorrow. Besides, Lila showing up today was just another point in Jess’s favor. What had she said to him? “How many more are out there?”
He and Lane had never had a fight. Not when they were just friends, and not in the three months since they’d started dating, but he needed to find a thread he could tug on. Something that would fray enough for them to take a little break, but nothing so big that there’d be no coming back from it.
In his past, he’d just tell the woman that it just wasn’t working for him, or that he wanted to see other people. Neither of those things was true now. Maybe he could make up a family emergency that he had to take care of, something that would give him an excuse to create some distance. This was hell. The last thing he wanted was distance. He’d marry her right this minute if she were willing. He pulled into her driveway and turned to look at her.
“We need to talk.”
Those four words that indicate the death of relationships everywhere. What had she told him, the truth was the most important thing to her in a relationship? So here he was about to lie to her. The question was how big a lie could he tell and still be forgiven for it later because he wasn’t ready to see this end forever. Just a little break until they knew who really killed Carol Anne and why.
She looked at him. What the hell? Everyone knew those words were never good. What could there be to talk about? “All right, do you want to come in?”
Want? Hell yes he wanted to come in. He wanted to come in and stay forever. This wasn’t about what he wanted.
“Let’s talk here for a bit. The other night you brought up a prenup. I’ve been thinking about it, and I think that if you want a prenup, then you aren’t sure, and if you aren’t sure, then we’d better take a little break until we figure things out.”
She looked at him. Was he asking to take a break from their four day engagement? That was what it sounded like to her. She lowered her voice the way Parkers do when they were pissed. “You’re suggesting that we take a break from our four day engagement? Is that what I’m hearing?”
“I’m saying we might need a little space.”
Not four hours ago, he’d made love to her and said he wanted to love her and make love to her alone for the rest of his life. Four hours ago he was professing his undying love and now he wanted a break? Well, he could have a break. He could break his neck for all she cared. He needed some space, well she’d give him some space.
Lane opened her door. “All right, counselor. When you’ve finished with your break, you let me know,” she practically whispered.
She quietly closed the door, walked to the garage, entered the code and went in.
Ben sat there until the garage door closed. He thumbed through his recent calls and pushed to call Jess.
“It’s done.” And he ended the call.
Lane went to her bedroom. The bed still in disarray from their love making earlier. What just happened? Ben loved her. She knew it. He loved her kids. She knew that too. She felt sick. She brushed her teeth and washed her face before changing into her night shirt. She got into bed and dialed Jess’s number.
“Tell me all about the audition.”
“Actually, it went better than well. I just heard from my agent. I got it. We start principal shooting in Europe just after Thanksgiving.”
Lane began crying. “Oh, Jess, I’m so happy for you.”
“Mom, are you okay?”
“Ben and I just had a fight. We’re taking a break.”
Italian Translations
Pauli, camicie a tavola!: Pauli, shirts at the table!
Qualcuno si sta insinuando la famiglia.: Someone is bothering the family.
Abbiamo bisogno di un test di paternità di Jake è il padre della ragazza: We need a paternity test done right away to prove Jake is the baby girl’s Papa.
Sì, zio. Mi pare di capire. Sarà fatto oggi: Yes, uncle. I understand. It will be done today.
Congratulazioni, figlio: Congratulations, Son.
E' una buona notizia: Is it good news
Sì; favorevole: Yes favorable
Godere: Enjoy
Kate Kane answers your questions
I’ve gotten feedback from readers about some of the characters.
Some of you want to know what happened to Jeff from Favor for a Friend. He’s in Omaha still working for the construction company and building houses. You can expect him to make at least a cameo appearance in Book 7.
Some of you have asked if Detective Mick McGuire is going to be a recurring character. Yes, he’s in several more books.
Some of you want to see more of Collin Burke who was the arson investigator in Family Secrets. Collin wasn’t originally going to be a recurring character, but by request, he’ll be back.
About the Author
Kate Kane has been working in corporate America as a Computer professional for over 25 years. She has lived in small towns and large cities in Iowa, Nebraska, North Dakota, Kansas and South Carolina. She is divorced and currently lives in Topeka, Kansas. Like Lane Parker, she loves movies. One of her most recent favorites is the Hunger Games series.
Kate began writing while still in high school. Her first endeavors were short stories and poetry. Teachers and friends thought her work was good, but as she likes to say, she has volumes of bad poetry to prove them wrong. She may publish a book of poetry and allow all of you to judge for yourselves.